Combination valve for a shower and cleaning brush



April 1969 c. M. MELLAN 3,441,054

COMBINATION VALVE FOR A SHOWER AND CLEANING BRUSH Filed Jan. 24, 1966 NW Wm INVENTOR.

CARLTON M. MELLAN I I 9 i- A TTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,441,054 COMBINATION VALVE FOR A SHOWER AND CLEANING BRUSH Carlton M. Mellan, 5021 Orcutt Ave., San Diego, Calif. 92120 Filed Jan. 24, 1966, Ser. No. 522,463 Int. Cl. F16k 7/00 US. Cl. 137-610 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination valve for a shower and cleaning brush in which, when a coupling is inserted into the shower fixture, the shower outlet is closed and a passage is opened from the shower fixture to a hose having a brush at the end thereof.

The present invention relates to a fluid system and accessories therefor, and more particularly to fixtures for use in the bathroom or the like wherein there is a spigot for supplying water to a tub or a shower head.

In practicing the present invention, a stationary fixture is provided having an inlet which is connected with a source of fluid, herein shown as a source of water. This inlet is provided with two outlets. One of these outlets may be connected to the spigot for supplying water to a tub, or as herein shown, for supplying water to a shower head. The other outlet is adapted to be connected to a flexible hose. The surface of the stationary fixture, forming the first mentioned outlet, forms a valve seat. A second valve seat is formed by the surface forming the second mentioned outlet.

A movable valve is disposed within the fixture and is provided With two seats. One of the valve seats of the movable valve is in confronting relationship with the first mentioned valve seat of the fixture and is movable to valve closing position therewith. The other of the valve seats of the movable valve is in confronting relationship with the other valve seat of the fixture. A spring normally yielding, urges the movable valve to a position in which the said other valve seat thereof, seats with the second mentioned valve seat of the fixture.

One end of a hollow, movable coupling is attached to the end of the hose. This coupling is provided with a section which is engageable with the second mentioned surface of the fixture for closing the second mentioned outlet and is provided with a section which is engageable with the movable valve for moving the valve to a position in which the first mentioned valve seat thereof is in valve seating engagement with the first mentioned valve seat of the fixture when the first mentioned section of the movable coupling is in closing relationship with the second mentioned outlet of the fixture.

Other features and the advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary view of a shower bath, showing the fixture of the present invention connected with a shower head and also connected by a flexible hose to a brush for supplying water to the brush;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional view of the fixture of the present invention, showing the same connected to a shower head and also to the coupling for a hose, the view showing the movable valve in a position in which it is maintained when the water is being supplied to the shower head; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the fixture showing the movable valve in a position in which it pre- 3,441,054 Patented Apr. 29, 1969 vents flow of water to the shower head and in which position water can be delivered to the hose through the coupling.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the fixture 20 includes a main body 22 and a generally cylindrically shaped coupling 24, the main body and the coupling be ing threaded, as is shown at 26, for connecting these elements with one another. The main body 22 is threaded as at 28 for receiving the threaded inlet pipe 30. The coupling is provided with two outlets 32 and 34, the outlet 32 being formed in the main body, while the outlet 34 is formed in the hollow coupling 24. A portion of the main body 22 which forms the outlet 32. may be the spigot leading to the bathtub, but is herein shown as threaded as at 36 for connection with a shower head 38. The generally, cylindrically shaped surface forming the outlet 34 in the coupling 24, slidably receives the upper portion of a hollow coupling 40. The lower portion of the coupling 40 is connected to a hose 42. As herein shown, the hose is connected by a hollow handle 44 to a brush 46. Cold and hot waters are delivered to the pipe 30 through pipes, not shown, which are controlled individually by valves, the handles of which are shown at 48 and 50.

The surface forming the outlet 32 provides a circular valve seat 52 and the surface forming the outlet 34 forms a circular valve seat 54. A movable valve 56 is disposed in the enlarged hollow inlet section or chamber 58 of the main valve body 22. Valve 56 includes a core 60, which is surrounded by an annulus 62, which is formed of rubber or synthetic rubber. This valve annulus 62 is provided with an upwardly facing, circular seat 64, which confronts the downwardly facing seat 52 of the main valve body 22 and is provided with a downwardly facing, circular seat 66, which confronts the upwardly facing seat 54 on the coupling 24. The core 60 of the movable body is provided with an upwardly extending boss 68 which is aligned with a downwardly extending boss 70 in the upper part of the body 22. A coil spring 72 is interposed between the body 22 and the upper part of the valve and normally urges the lower valve seat 66 thereof into seating arrangement with the valve seat 54 on the coupling 24. The bottom of the valve core 60 is provided with a recess 74 which receives a coil spring 76, the downward extent of movement of the spring 76 being limited by a washer 78, and this washer is limited in its downward extent of movement by a screw 80 threaded upwardly into the core 60 and extending downwardly in the recess.

The upper portion of the slidable coupling 40 is contracted as shown at 82 so that it can be received in the recess 74 in the core 60 of the valve 56. The upper portion of the coupling 40 is provided with a series of holes 84 leading to the interior of the coupling whereby water can flow from the inlet in the main body to the hose 42. The slidable coupling 40 is provided with a circumferential groove 86 intermediate the ends thereof and this groove is adapted to receive the balls 88 disposed within the coupling 24. These balls are forced inwardly by springs 90, which springs are interposed between the balls 88 and threaded retaining plugs 92.

By pushing the hose coupling 40 upwardly from the position shown in FIG. 2, to the position shown in FIG. 3, the contracted end '82 of the coupling 40 will force the valve 56 to a position in which the upper seat 64 thereof closes upon the seat 52 of the main body whereby water cannot flow through the outlet 32, but water can flow from the inlet to the hose through the openings 84 in the coupling 40, since the lower seat 66 of the valve 56 is lifted off of the seat 54 of the coupling 24. When in the position shown in FIG. 3, the balls 88 will be within the groove 86 and hold the coupling 40 in position.

It will be observed that the valve 56 is held in its upper seated position through the contracted part 82 of the coupling 40, the washer 78 and the spring 76. The spring 76, when under compression, as shown in FIG. 3, exerts an upward force greater than the counteracting downward force of spring 72. By using the spring 76, as herein described, greater tolerance is permitted between the position of the balls 88 and the seat 52 on the body 22 and greater tolerance is permitted in the vertical dimension of the rubber annulus 62, yet seating of the upper valve seat 64 on the valve body seat 52 is assured.

Rubber O-rings 94 are closely embraced by the surfaces forming the grooves 96 on the interior of the coupling 24 and these O-rings 94 closely embrance the circumference of the coupling 40 so as to prevent the leakage along the coupling 40.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that when the valve 56 is in the position shown in FIG. 2, water can flow freely through the fixt-ure to the shower head 38. The coupling 40 can be maintained in the position shown in FIG. 2 or it may be withdrawn from the fixture, and the water cannot fiow through the outlet 34 since the seat 66 of the valve 56 is in valve sealing relationship with the valve 54. When it is desirable to use the brush with Water, the slidable coupling 40 is moved into the position shown in FIG. 3, removing the lower valve seat 66 of the valve 56 from the seat 54 and closing upper valve seat 64 of the valve 56 in sealing relationship with the downwardly facing valve seat 52 of the main body. Thereafter, the valve handles 48 and 50 are actuated to supply water to the brush 46.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that by virtue of the present invention, there has been provided a fixture which not only supplies water to a bathtub or a shower, but can be converted to a fixture for supplying water to a brush for scrubbing the shower, the tub or the floor of the bathroom. Its simplicity is such that the unskilled help employed in hotels can manipulate the same readily. Moreover, the fixture is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and can -be readily substituted for the standard structure now employed, for example, for delivering water to shower heads.

While the form of embodiment herein shown and described constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms may be adapted falling within the scope of the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. A combination comprising:

(A) a conduit for fluid;

(B) a stationary fixture having an inlet chamber connected with a source of fluid, said fixture having surfaces forming two outlets, the surface forming one of said outlets forming a valve seat, and the surface forming the other of said outlets forming a valve seat;

(C) a movable valve disposed in the fixture, said valve having two valve seats, one of said valve seats of the movable valve being movable into valve closing relationship with the first mentioned valve seat of the fixture, the other of the valve seats of the movable valve being movable into valve closing relationship with the other valve seat of the fixture;

(D) a spring normally yieldingly urging the movable valve to the second mentioned position;

(E) a hollow, movable coupling having one end connected with the conduit and in open communication therewith, said coupling having:

(1) a section engageable with the said one outlet surface of the fixture for closing the said one outlet;

(2) and a section extendible into the inlet chamber and engageable with the movable valve for moving the valve to the first mentioned position, said latter section having an opening for receiving fluid directly from the inlet chamber when the valve is in said first mentioned position.

2. A combination as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said second mentioned section (2) of the movable coupling (E) includes a spring engaging the movable valve.

3. A combination as defined in claim 1, characterized in that said second mentioned section (2) of the movable relationship with one another and that the valve seats on the valve are disposed on opposite sides of the valve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,669,978 5/1928 Gavaza 137-610 XR 2,418,360 4/1947 Matlack et al. 13760 8 XR 2,474,286 6/1949 Snyder 251-353 XR 2,548,957 4/1951 Di Rosa 251353 XR 2,619,914 12/1952 Dobkin 251353 XR 2,767,019 10/1956 Manville 137614 XR 2,933,285 4/1960 Tucker 137-610 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 512,257 1/ 1955 Italy.

536,293 1/1957 Canada. 1,101,303 3/1961 Germany.

SAMUEL SCOTT, Primary Examiner.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PATENT OFFICE Washington, D.C. 20231 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,441,054 April 29, 1969 Carlton M. Mellan It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 4, line 31, beginning with "in that said" cancel all to and including "of the valve." in line 33, same column 4 and insert relationship with one another and that the valve seats on the valve are disposed on opposit sides of the valve.

Signed and sealed this 14th day of April 1970.

(SEAL) Attest:

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

